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As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust: A Flavia de Luce Novel

Review

Although 12-year-old Flavia de Luce embraces adventure wholeheartedly, leaving her home, family and friends in the small English village of Bishop's Lacey to attend school at Miss Bodycote's Female Academy in Toronto, Canada, isn't on her list of desirable experiences. Nonetheless, duty calls, and before she knows it, she's been dispatched to further her education at her late mother's alma mater thousands of miles from home.

Escorted across the ocean by Ryerson Rainsmith, the chairman of the academy's board of guardians, and his wife, Dorsey, Flavia can hardly wait to reach her destination and gain her freedom from the annoying pair. Dorsey demands obedience from her husband, who bows and scrapes to accommodate her every demand. All Flavia knows is that she's had enough of the duo before the ship even sets sail. At long last, the transatlantic ocean journey and a train trip to Toronto see Flavia safely delivered to the boarding school that's rumored to be haunted.

"AS CHIMNEY SWEEPERS COME TO DUST, the latest installment in Alan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce series, provides readers with a rollicking good time and gives them additional insight into the mystery that is Flavia."

Before Flavia's first night at the academy is over, a shocking occurrence thrusts her deep into a mystery that leaves her itching to investigate. A charred body wrapped in a Union Jack flag becomes dislodged and tumbles from the chimney in her room. Who is this unfortunate victim, and what's her body doing concealed in such a way?

Rumor has it that three students have disappeared, one by one, from the school's premises, never to be seen again. Could the mummified body in the chimney be one of these unfortunates? While her classmates whisper behind closed doors about what might have happened to their missing peers, no one dares broach the subject directly.

In addition to performing her detective duties, Flavia must find a way to navigate the murky waters of a new school, learning who is to be trusted and who isn't. A person who seems to be a friend at first may turn out to be a foe before all is said and done.

Luckily, Flavia isn't without resources. Her quick mind, scathing wit and ability to think on her feet serve her well when it comes to staying out of significant trouble with those in charge of the school's students, particularly the imposing headmistress, Miss Fawlthorne. Still, will those qualities be enough to help her solve a series of mysteries in a strange land so far from home?

AS CHIMNEY SWEEPERS COME TO DUST, the latest installment in Alan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce series, provides readers with a rollicking good time and gives them additional insight into the mystery that is Flavia. While the novels can all be read individually, devouring the preceding stories will allow readers to fully know Flavia in all her glory. After all, it would be a shame to miss even one of her piercing observations about those around her or to sit out any of the adventures that apparently are a normal part of her life.